Tail channel / gyro reversed?

[PaulH]

This is one of those things that I usually get backwards and fix without thinking, but I'm just getting back into helis after a two year hiatus and for the life of me cannot remember... When bench testing your Intrepid Gasser, how do you know if the tail server is going the right way?

I think the rule of thumb was to put the tail rotor so that it is going vertically, and then look at the trailing edge of the top blade. It should point in the direction that the stick is being moved on the transmitter.

For the gyro, the same trailing edge should point in the direction that the tail is moving to counteract it.

Is this right or is my memory old and foggy? :arggg:

[MarkWebber]

Memory might be foggy, Paul, but it's right on. Stick left=blade T/E left. Push the tail left=blade T/E left.

Welcome back and happy flying!

[PaulH]

Thanks, Mark! I will have to work on that tonight after my chores (aka honey do list) are done. Hopefully tomorrow I can hit one of the local soccer fields and get a little hovering in, to get my "air legs" back, so to speak. :)

[TVaillancourt]

A quick and easy method is as follows.
Take the tail blade facing the ground and fold it backwards and leave the one facing to the sky where it is.Will look like a backwards L.
Looking at the heli from the tail in position move the TX stick to the left the horizontal blade should also move to the left.
To check for gyro direction grab the heli from the front and hold the head in one hand and the boom in the other.Now move the heli from side to side.When you move the whole heli to the left the horizontal tail blade should move to the right to counter.If it moves in the same direction you will have to reverse it.

[SeaHawk]

whatever you do...when in doubt before your first flight...take off very, very slowly, gradually - gradually getting light on skids. You will know right away if you got the direction right.